Fandom Thoughts: My Thought on Power Rangers Turbo (So Far)

Happy Saturday!

I am now at the Power Rangers Turbo season of my Power Rangers Franchise Rewatch and you know what? When I was a kid I didn't like either the Turbo movie or season but after rewatching the movie and the first five episodes this morning, my opinion has sort of changed. The movie wasn't as bad as I remembered. I still think Tommy Oliver (Red Ranger) has feeling for Kimberly Hart (former Pink Ranger). His relationship with Katherine 'Kat' Hillard (Pink Ranger) always felt like settling. Tommy and Kat were okay, their chemistry never really felt romantic but more like friends, well at least to me.

Anyway, I still prefer the first movie but Turbo wasn't so bad. As for both the show and movie, I still think Justin Stewart (Blue Ranger) is the Power Rangers' version of "Cousin Oliver", it's just so weird to have a kid instead of a teenager being a Ranger. Although, yes, he's annoying but not so annoying that he gets on your nerves. So, far, he's okay. And with Tommy working at his uncle's garage throughout most of the first five episodes, it was interesting seeing the trio of Adam Park (Green Ranger), Tanya Sloan (Yellow Ranger) and Kat hanging out together. I like this trio. Now that they all graduated from high school and are starting on the next phase of their lives, it's cool that they have summer jobs. Tommy at the garage and race track, Tanya at the radio station, Adam being a stunt man at the Angel Grove Studio and Kat as a teacher's assistant. It was also nice seeing Rocky DeSantos (former Blue Ranger) before he no longer appeared. I never understood the hate that Rocky got, he was a fun character.

(From L to R: Tanya, Adam and Kat    Power Rangers Turbo season 5 episode 5: Transmission Impossible)

I do feel bad for Farkas 'Bulk' Bulkmeier and Eugene 'Skull' Skullovitch (who I guess also graduated from high school as well) because they were turned into chimpanzees. I don't remember what episode they get turned back but I'll find out at some point during this rewatch. At least the former Lt. Jerome Stone is taking care of them even if he doesn't know it's them. I forgot Ernie had sold his business, the Angel Grove Youth Center Gym and Juice Bar to Jerome. It's sad that Zordon and Alpha 5 left and their replacements Dimitria and Alpha 6 definitely have to grow on you. I found it interesting that Dimitria instead of telling the Rangers what to do, she ask them questions that makes them think and figure out the solution for themselves. Their young adults now and they need to be able to think for themselves, not that they didn't before. But they always had that safety net of Zordon providing them with the answers or telling them exactly what they need to do in order to save the day. Now they have to do that themselves.

Last but not least, I do remember that Tommy, Adam, Kat and Tonya were replaced as Rangers during this season but I don't remember what episode. I don't even remember those new Rangers so it'll be interesting to be re-introduced to those new characters. And to see if I remember liking them or not. I'm still looking forward to continuing this rewatch next week.

Fandom Friday: Random Fandom Thoughts #55: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers season 2 and Sharon Carter

Happy Friday, here are a two Fandom Thoughts that have been on my mind:

- For my Power Rangers Rewatch, I'm on the second season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and it felt like the two newly introduced characters Curtis (Zack's cousin) and Richie were being introduced as potential rangers. Too bad they weren't, I think they would have been good as Power Rangers. Season two also had Farkas "Bulk" Bulkmeier and Eugene "Skull" Skullovitch being amateur detectives trying to figure out who the Power Rangers were. I'm really surprised that Bulk and Skull were so focused on this since they never seem to care about anything else besides being jerks and bullies. I also noticed that this season was also very Tommy Oliver (Green/White Ranger) centric. When I watched this show as a kid, I didn't notice these things but rewatching it as an adult you certainly do.

I also didn't think Tommy should have immediately become leader of the Power Rangers just because he became the new White Ranger (with more power) especially since Jason Lee Scott (Red Ranger) was still there. And not to mention, Jason had been the leader since the beginning, it just seemed weird to have demoted him. Even though I haven't gotten to the episodes where Jason, Trini Kwan (Yellow Ranger) and Zack Taylor (Black Ranger) leave the show (I will next week), I feel like the Showrunner and writers should have waited until after they unfortunately left to determine who the new leader was going to be. So, that if Tommy was going to be the new leader he should have had to earn that title before instantly becoming it. Plus, he didn't have as much as experience as the others. And there was no reason why Kimberly Hart (Pink Ranger) or Billy Cranston (Blue Ranger) couldn't have also been chosen to be the leader as well. Leadership shouldn't be based on who has the most power (which Tommy now had) because experience should definitely be a factor. There should have been a friendly competition between Kimberly, Billy and Tommy to determine who should have been the team leader after Jason left. I'm still a fan of all of these characters, it's just interesting what you see when you rewatch a show.



- It still annoys me that they ruined Sharon Carter's character in The Falcon and Winter Soldier TV series. She should have continued to be the hero that she is in the comic books. It's so annoying that first she was pushed out of being Steve Rogers' love interest in the movies which she is in the comics. And then they turned her into a villain in the TV series. Being a Sharon Carter fan, it's disappointing how this character was mistreated in the MCU. And her treatment it's just something that still annoys me.

In Remembrance: Jason David Frank

As a big Power Rangers fan, it's heartbreaking to hear the news that actor and mixed martial artist Jason David Frank has died at the age of 49. Although he was best known for his role as Tommy Oliver in the Power Rangers franchise, he was also a very skilled martial artist. An official cause of death of has not been released but it's being speculated that he may have committed suicide.

If you find yourself struggling or feeling overwhelmed by mental health issues please seek help. In the US, the national suicide prevention hotline number is 988, please call if you need to.